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The case of a teenager accused of participating in the slayings of three men lured by phony
Craigslist job offers went to a jury yesterday, with prosecutors portraying him as a full
accomplice in the crimes and his defense attorney arguing he was a scared child stuck in a horrible
situation.

Defendant Brogan Rafferty faces life in prison without chance of parole if convicted of
aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of the men last year. Two were killed in rural eastern
Ohio, and one was killed near Akron.

Rafferty, 17, has said his onetime mentor, Richard Beasley, had issued a veiled warning to keep
quiet.

Beasley, who has pleaded not guilty and will be tried separately, could face the death penalty
if convicted. As a juvenile, Rafferty can’t be sentenced to death.

Jurors deliberated about two hours before leaving for the day. They were expected to resume this
morning.